St. Paul daily globe., 1887-05-27
ROMANCE IN LIEE.
From ForecastIe and Coal Yard to
the Pulpit.

WIN the apparently impossible; of am
DltlOn, OF success so wonderful that
some will say that it is but romance-a
story OF love and its elimination as a
fitting and final triumph.
,.One evening last week pretty we'd
ding was sOlemniZed at beautiful resi-
dence IN Roxbury. The bride was at
tired In heavy white silk, and wore a
Voiumlnous veil. Scores of intelligent
men and beautiful women crowded
about with their congratulations Manv
and costly were the gifts which vera
bestowed upon the bridal pair by their
friends, and many were the congratuIa-
tlonS W hich were shOWered upon them
But this is anticipating.
1t was about thirteen years ago that a
vessel flying foreign flag entered the
harbor OF Providence, r. l. Among the
crew was young Norwegian, scarcely
more than lad, who, as the vessel en-
tered the bay and finally dropped anchor
in the outer harbor, gazed upon the al
most matchless beauty of the Narragan-
sett shores. His heart swelled within
him as he thought of this as the Western
land of promise, of which he had so
often heard, and great determination
rose in his heart to make this his future
home, to bring hither his widowed
mother and establish for them both a
habitation in the land of liberty.
His voyage over, he received the pit
tance due him and went on shore. He
was alone, stranger in strange land.
True, he could speak English, for he
had beeh taught the language in the
Norwegian schools. Beyond this he
was helpless. Where should he turn?
Whittier should he go?
He wandered along the docks until he
reached the great iron draw-bridge
which spans the river almost at its
mouth. Half crossing the bridge he
stopped in mid-Stream ana stood gazing
down the bay. He could see the vessel
in which he came, the only home he
! knew. The flag still fluttered at the
peak, and seemed to call him to return
to the land of the North. But he could
not do that. He had resolved to test
this new world and see what it had in
store for him. But where should he
look for shelter? To whom should he
look for aid?
For some time he stood thus gazing
down the bay and lost in reverie. He
did not hear the slow tramp of a horse
and the dull rumble of wheels upon the
planks of the bridge, He did not notice
that the vehicle suddenly stopped near
him, and -pleasant-faced gentleman
was leaning from buggy and looking
lntently at him. A moment more and
he was startled by an exclamation: -
| 'Hullor'
The young Norwegian turned and
saw what has been described. The
| gentleman in the buggy beckoned to
him. He drew near, wondering.
who are you, young man? What are
you standing here for?" asked the gen
tleman, kindly.
Il am Norwegian sailor, SIR" an
swered the young man, Il have just
reached your country, and l think l viii
stay if | can find a home and work.
perhaps l can help you. Get in with
me. l will see what can do for you"
The Norwegian complied, still won
derlng.. He was taken to the house of a
Swedish employe of his newly-found
friend, where he found temporary
home. In a few days work was provided
for him, and his career in this country
was fairly begun.
The limits of newspaper article are
insufficient to tell the tale of the subse-
quent decade. By hard labor he sue
ceeded in saving money enough to bring
his mother to his new home. Then his
happiness was complete. But not long
after her arrival he was thrown out of
work. This was in the hard winter OF
1876. Nothing opened for him save a
situation in a coal yard, where he was
mers. But he yearned for something
better than this. A great ambition filled
his soul. He determined to become a
minister.
"What shall I do?" he inquired of a
friend.
'Get thorough education first" was
the advice, land then see what opens"
He had no money, but he had a brave
heart. Procuring a few elementary
/ of nl-. In 4NA
under his arm and directly enlisted for
year as an ordinary seaman on board
the revenue cutter Samuel Dexter. a
queer thing to do you say. So it was,
but he knew what he was about. He
studied diligently in all his spare hours,
and when his term of enlistment had eX-
pired he had kept pace with the class at
the preparatory school at East Green
wich and, having saved his wages, had
sufficient funds to pay his tuition for the
second year. He studied hard. The
next summer he was employed as q
sailor on Lester Wallaek's yacht, and so
earned and saved money enough to
carry him through the third year and fit
him for Yale.
The next year he entered Yale and
struggled through by teaching and
preaching. A portion of the time he
was employed by Prof. Phelps, now
United States minister to England, as
private tutor in his family. He was
rising in the world, you see.
A graduate of Yale, finally, with a
high rank. he entered the theological
school, and for the first year occupied
the pulpit of church i'll a small town
near New Haven. Then he was called
to the theological school at Chicago,
where he taught English to a class of
Scandinavian students. Meantime he
completed his studies in theology, and
a few months ago was graduated with
hOnOrS.
Now comes our love story, adding a
charming chapter this romantic life.
His widowed mother had taken a Sec
ond husband and had settled upon a
farm in Dakota. Last summer the
WhilOm Norwegian sailor, now a college
and theological graduate, gentleman
cultivated. educated and refined,
journeycd to Dakota for the purpose of
paying a visit to his mother.
While here he met a young lady of
Boston, who was visiting friends
ready been surmised. The pretty we'd
ding with which this story opens was
the result. A few months will be passed
i'll this city among friends, and then the
two will go away to the West; but
where? Already two Dakota churches
have extended to him calls to the pas
torate. The American Home Mission
society solicitS his help in the Scandina-
Wan missions of the great Northwest.
The Chicago theological school is hold
ing wide open its doors for his return.
''What q wonderful story" you say.
What a wonderful success" Can a
stranger story be found in the pages of
romance?